§ 44-08-17 — Political subdivisions authorized to purchase insurance on the life of law enforcement officer - Benefits payable to dependent survivor

enforcement officer - Benefits payable to dependent survivor.
Any political subdivision may purchase insurance on the life of a law enforcement officer
employed by that political subdivision. Such insurance policy must be purchased from an
insurance company licensed to do business in this state. If the insurance is purchased, the
officer insured thereunder may designate that officer's dependent survivor or survivors to whom
the death benefit provided under the policy must be paid. The word "dependent" means that the
deceased officer provided some financial support within one year before the officer's death to
the survivor and must be liberally construed for the purposes of this section. In the event the
officer has not designated a dependent survivor or survivors, the death benefit payable must be
paid to the closest survivor in the following order:
1. Spouse.
2. Children.
3. Parent.
4. Brother or sister.
However, if there is more than one qualifying survivor in subsection 2, 3, or 4, the death benefit
must be paid in equal shares to the survivors in that category. The death benefit provided by an
insurance policy purchased pursuant to this section may not exceed the amount of ten thousand
dollars on the life of one law enforcement officer. Any death benefit paid due to purchase of an
insurance policy under the provisions of this section must be in addition to any benefits paid due
to the death of that officer under any other provisions of law.